Vision assisted fixture construction

ABSTRACT

A new method and apparatus for fabrication or alignment of fixtures, jigs and structures is disclosed. The invention uses target points on one or more details which are referenced to the overall structure via targets on the details. These targets are monitored by a TV camera unit which is alternatively interfaced to a display for the human operator or a robot to provide position data. The interface may include input from a CAD system which allows display on robot coordinates to be offset by design data of the structure or a part to be located on it. 
     While mainly envisioned for assistance in constructing fixtures for automobile assembly, the disclosed invention is widely useable for all types of construction including aircraft, bridges, boats, buses, houses, buildings and the like. A means for improving resolution of automatically servoed camera based systems is also disclosed.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 07/866,653 filed Apr. 8, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,143, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/643,905, filed Jan. 22, 1991, now abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/525,706 filed May 21, 1990, now abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/382,497 filed Jul. 21, 1989, now abandoned, which is a division of application Ser. No. 07/113,363 filed Oct. 27, 1987, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,851,905, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/022,596 filed Mar. 4, 1987, now abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 06/660,279, filed Oct. 12, 1984, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND

This application incorporates by reference the following copending applications.

1. Targets Ser. No. 348,803 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,949

2. Robot Calibration Ser. No. 453,910 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,569

3. Pulsed Robotic Inspection now U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,350

4. Pulsed Robotic Inspection CIP now U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,696

Copending applications by the inventor have discussed target based guidance concepts for robot in machinery control which can lead to higher accuracy, lower cost, higher speed and other desirable solutions in a reliable, accurate manner capable of widespread application.

This disclosure extends this idea toward specific problems related to the manufacture of car bodies, aircraft structures, covering and both the assembly of the components and the fixtures that assist in this assembly.

One embodiment of the invention aids in manufacture of fixtures. Quite clearly, the construction of high precision fixtures for either assembly fixtures, weld fixtures or check fixtures required by today's manufacturer of aircraft and automobiles is an extremely expensive and time consuming proposition. It is estimated for example that within one large automobile manufacturer in North America, at least $2 Billion in such fixtures at any one time are circulating. When new car lines come out the fixtures for the previous line become scrap.

What's worse, the fixture costs generally have a long time delay in their delivery. Since this is an area where numerous engineering changes occur during the engineering of the car, widespread last minute changes in the fixtures are required which causes enormous cost escalations plus further adds to the delays in getting the car lines to the market which can lead to significant lost market share consequences.

What is disclosed herein is a novel target based technique to assist in the construction of fixtures in either a manual or an automatic manner, greatly reducing the cost and the delivery time.

A particular area of interest is the disclosure of target based equipment which can aid an operator or a robot in the positioning of check, locating or other actual assembly details onto the fixtures as well as the linking of such data to the CAD data systems for the part and/or fixture.

Fixtures constitute a large percentage of the cost of tooling for new body styles and their construction interjects into any new model program a considerable time delay. Computer aided automatic vision based metrology systems can be utilized to materially speed up this effort to both reduce costs and quicken the delivery time of such fixturing.

Besides the obvious increased cost effectiveness, the system proposed has two other major advantages. First, it is directly interfaceable to CAD systems and therefore totally ameanable with future thrusts in math model car design and build.

The second thing, is that the real time nature of the data provided allows the system to first be utilized in a manual mode, upward to semi automatic and then finally to full robot fixtureless assembly using the same basic concepts founded on metrological principles.

This proposal is generally related in some aspects to the procedure of laying out large fabricated fixtures and other objects using theodolites. Such theodolites which currently have become digitized with reliable programming allow a considerable simplification of the layout procedure and can materially aid in the checkout of fixtures and other structures.

However, the use of such theodolites does very little for the person actually charged with constructing the fixture. What is proposed here however is a dynamic interactive target based system used by itself or in conjunction with theodolites which actually allow fabrication of the object itself taking data concerning the part for which the fixture is to fit, such as a body side or what have you from the CAD data base and feeding to a sensor unit that is capable of seeing the detail to be assembled and possibly the part such as a framework or other detail to which it is to be mated.

In the first case, this allows an operator to position the detail in computer defined space, rapidly and easily from which it would then be locked down via welding, lock screws or what have you. In addition, the process provides an automatic check, again relative to computer data space for the fixture using the part data master. In short, this is an entirely CAD compatible manufacturing process which can start out manually--a big advantage.

In future applications, the process can be further automated with robots handling one or more of the positioning, welding, or attaching tasks. It is not all far removed to consider that fixtures themselves could be robot constructed.

The step beyond that is to eliminate fixtures entirely using the robots to essentially form the fixture in a sequential mode. However, this is not thought to be generally applicable but certainly could be applicable on certain sub assemblies, details or the like. The beauty of this whole idea is that it can start simply off-line in the fixture build and in the end turns out to what may be the key to the whole line itself, all the while saving large sums of money and time.

The process is not necessarily limited solely to the fabrication of fixtures. Other conveyor details including nesting fixtures, possibly even dies and molds could fit this as well.

This invention is illustrated in the following figures:

FIG. 1 illustrates a basic detail to fixture structure embodiment.

FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c illustrates closeups of a detail.

FIG. 3 illustrates a display according to the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a robotically positioned detail.

FIG. 5 illustrates an automatic theodolite with accuracy enhanced camera system.

In addition, the technique here is widely useable to contruction of structures in general such as aircraft wing sections, houses, bridges and anything else where detail members are to be assembled to a framework.

FIG. 1 illustrates the concept of the device. A framework, 5, let us say a weld fixture for a car, is to be set up with details which for the moment are just simply locating details which may have a complex curvature on their face. This could however be weld guns or anything else for that matter.

A theodolite system or other device is utilized to establish the general framework of the fixture in space to which the various details are to be attached. At each attaching point, a detail itself is targeted with 3 or 4 dot targets.

The camera unit is pointed at the fixture detail in a known manner to the laid out framework. This can be taken directly from the theodolite computers or other data entered. The details are then positioned by the operator by looking at a screen which tells him how to position it, the data coming from both the camera unit telling the position and the CAD data telling the desired position. When the operator has the part positioned properly, he then locks it down using whatever means is practicable such as spot welds, bolts, what have you.

The particularly easy thing to imagine would be locators on Gimbled or ball mounts. This would allow the operator to relatively easily position it in multi degrees of freedom under robot guidance control after which he would then lock it down in a more secure manner.

Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,959 which generally shows automatic sensor techniques for determining target position.

The impact on production of such fixture construction is substantial. In a large auto company alone, approximately $2 Billion in fixtures are in use at any one time. The vast majority are scrapped when new styles are introduced. It is estimated that this invention could save half the cost of such fixtures and allow much faster delivery, assisting manufacturers in responding to market demand (for different styles, etc.). A comparison is in order. Today the following steps are required to build a precision check fixture (for a car door say).

Present Fixture Build

1. NC block (detail)

2. Scribe lines on N/C block.

3. Build up precision detail on bench (L-unit).

4. Precision mount above to precision base

5. Precision check.

With the invention, only two steps are required.

Target Fixture Build

1. NC block detail including target points.

2. Precision assembly and check (simultaneous) with camera based auto theodolite system connected to CAD design base.

Implied is much less manual labor.

Steps of operation, FIG. 1:

1. Determine location of structure frame using, for example (but not limited to), automatic theodolite pair 10 and 11 and target points 15, 16, 17, and 18 (more targets would be required if more complicated than a simple plate or rectangular frame).

2. Using computer 30 to analyze said determined target data, and in regard to design data from CAD system 40 for either the structure or a part to be held by it, derive correct location for a locator such as 50.

3. Position at least one theodolite such as 11 at a position above to see at least two targets such as 25 and 26 on said locator (typically 3 or 4 are used). This positioning can be manual or automatic from data from computer 30.

4. Derive from the camera 12 of said automatic theodolite at least one coordinate of said locator relative to said camera.

5. Process the image of said camera using camera processor 13 connected to computer 30 data to obtain location variance relative to desired location.

6. Display on display 70 (or transmit--i.e. to a robot) movements needed to position locator at location desired.

Typically, theodolites 10 and 11 are placed on a floor at known locations relative to each other. Alternatively, they can be co-located on a stiff plate or other support such as 60 wheeled around for the purpose to the job. This plate could also be overhead, (with theodolites upside down) such as 65 shown in dotted lines, either fixed or brought in on a slide or crane way (very desirable for floor space, but implies automatic operation).

Note that the NC blocks of the detail can have multiple sets of targets on different faces to allow views thereof, with each targets relation to the working surface known. For maximum visibility, targets can stick up from the surface but this can lead to damage.

FIG. 2a illustrates a closeup of a detail 100 useable on a typical fixture. The target 101-103 points on block 105 are NC machined in relationship with the contoured surface 110 (and perhaps on it). This is a big advantage over using hand scribed target points scribed on later.

One type of adjustable universal detail moveable in multiple axes is shown in FIG. 2b. This is capable of positioning the target block in 4-6 axes (z axis slide and rotation about z axis with set screws 120 for tube 122, pitch and yaw adjustment with three screws 124, and optional x and y axes slide for base in mounting plate 126--note mounting plate 126 can itself be targeted to allow for quick placement in a nearly correct position). Other devices with ball joints etc. are also possible (eg. 115).

For automatic reading, a spot target (FIG. 2c) is better (i.e. more accurate) than a scribed cross hair and can be formed using retro reflective tape 170 (eg. Scotchlite 7615) formed on a dowel pin or disc 171 sunk into NC machined hole 172 if desired, contoured surface 180 for locating detail can be provided with targets 182.

FIG. 3 illustrates a display 70 useable by an operator to visualize up to 6 degree of freedom data and to receive other written or pictoral messages from the control computer 30. For best operation, display update rate should be in real time (eg. faster than 1/10 sec.) to avoid flicker. In any case, the display should show new data in less than a few seconds to avoid overly long response time.

As shown in FIG. 3, display 70 can include an actual TV image of the object, or a solid model representation generated from CAD data and computer 30 to display object position in a space relative to the operator's frame of reference such as framework 5. A bar graphics display 72 and a written message or data display 74 are also preferably included in display 70.

An alternative to dynamic display via real time target monitoring is to tell the operator (or robot) which moves to make, which he or it then makes, arriving at the final position (subject to a further inspection step) using the accuracy of the device used to make the move, rather than by using the target data itself to rapidly `home in` on the final location. This is slower, but workable, however, it requires accurate multidegree of freedom positioners rather than inexpensive mounts for the details, and it requires the positioners to be accurately located relative to the overall structure, implying added target steps or precise construction, both less desirable.

Note the display can display any or all of the following at one time--written data, instructions, image of detail or structure, bar or other variance chart, solid model of detail, etc.

Of considerable importance is the fact that the various offset data etc. could be fed to the operator's alignment display from a CAD system. In other words, the operator wouldn't just line up the object to be normal to the viewing axis of the camera and along its axis, but instead to computer generated offsets in perhaps all 6 degrees of freedom from that axis. That axis itself would have been determined referencing from the larger structure using the theodolite (or other means).

FIG. 4 illustrates a robot means 200 for holding a detail 201 in place while an operator or other robotic means locks down the detail, eg. with a welder 210. After lock down camera 220 verifies that the location of detail 201 is correct, which location is stored in memory of computer 30.

FIG. 5 illustrates an automatic `theodolite` such as 500 consisting of a motorized θ and O axes 501 and 502 equipped with high resolution angular position sensors 505 and 506. Motors are controlled by computer 510 as is solid state TV camera 515 (eg. a GE TN2500) via camera control 520. Linear arrays such as Reticon 1024G can be used but are generally less useful as they only see in one plane.

While normally used for target location, the camera can also be used to see other features of an object or structure such as pertinent hole locations, edges, corners or the like (for example, hole 98 or corner 99 of structure 51). Indeed such features once identified can be used as target points for the purposes of this invention. Normally, however, precision special target points such as shown in FIGS. 2a, 2b, and 2c which are either retro reflective or actively lit, for example via fiber optics wherein an end of the fiber constitutes the target (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,949), offer much higher contrast and accuracy, and by their contrast are clearly distinguishable as targets from the background with no identification problem.

For the most common case of retro reflective targets, a light 530 with beam splitter 530 is located along camera axis to provide a good return signal.

Several techniques for accurately measuring and tracking are now disclosed.

First, two such theodolites as in FIG. 1, can be servoed to go to each target point of a structure in sequence or separately to sequentially take target data. For example, if the data base of the structure is known, each theodolite (or one individually) can be servoed to point at say target 25 (or target set) and determine deviation from data base prediction. Interestingly each can do it at random, matching the two theodolites data, target for target, after the fact if desired.

Where the data base is being generated, the theodolites can servo together by projecting a laser spot (such as 550 in FIG. 5) or other point co-axially from one theodolite 552 (master) and locking the second (slave) onto that spot. When the master unit sees a target in its field, one or both can read (the laser is desirably turned off at this time) and the system proceeds,

One could clearly raster scan throughout space to find all the targets on a large structure or whatever. However, it is often easier to use a camera such as 560 operating at much less magnification, and use an intense point source 570 to illuminate the whole structure or a portion, identify (manually) say with a display 575, or automatically, and rough locate the targets. Then the two theodolites are servoed by computer 510 to find these targets which are now known in their approximate locations.

Target designs for locators or other details can be all alike (eg. 1/4" dots) or can be varied and indeed can be coded, either by shape, grouping or spacing (eg. triangular target 580) to identify which locator is being looked at, for example this allows easy random access of structure points by independently scanning theodolites for example.

The actual target discrimination can be done on-the-fly by pulsing the light source 512 (strobe) to freeze the target image position on the camera matrix array at a given point in time when angular positions are known (i.e. at an encoder count point). Super fast bursts can be used to minimize blur using a diode laser (30 nsec burst) as the light source. Xenon strobes can be used as well.

Readout of target position on the matrix array gives target location. This is ideally done at high speed, and at high accuracy, for example using the invention of Pinckney et al (U.S. Pat. No. 4,219,847).

An alternate to pulsing is to continuously read target spot (or other) image positions very fast and record the spot location which corresponds to an encoder count. Often this is difficult do, and techniques such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,219,847 are desirably employed. (The target image spots in this case are equivalent in this regard to the triangulation spot images discussed therein.) Indeed, such techniques are crutial for theodolite work since very high accuracy is required.

Accuracy obtained can be quite high. For example, suppose the angular axes are encoded with precise angular encoders as those made by Heindenhain good to 2 arc seconds (9.6×10⁻⁶ rad), each (an easily obtainable figure).

The trip points are known to be good to one part in ten of this value or 0.2 arc sec. (approx. 10⁻⁶). At a distance of 400 inches (approx. 10 meters) this represents 4×10⁻⁶ inches.

A magnification of the camera lens system (telescope) of 30:1 means that a field of 7.5×7.5 inches can be viewed on the 0.25 inch×0.25 inch detector array, a good choice as many details might have target clusters on 2 inch centers, thus multiple targets can be seen in one view. Using Pinckney or other means such as U.S. patent or to determine target spot location, such location can be reliably determined to 1/5000 or better. This then is 1.25×10⁻³ inches, which at R=300 inches is 4.1×10⁻⁶ rad, approximately the resolution of the trip point of the angular encoder. At higher magnification, it could be the same.

When the theodolite is statically positioned, it seldom can point better than the limiting resolution (2 arc sec in the example) of its axis encoders, and this limits the control systems resulting ability to put it there any better. The read on-the-fly unit can do better than a statically positioned theodolite.

To expand on this, when reading on-the-fly, one can interpolate between encoder counts by:

1. Pulsing the light source precisely at an encoder count trip point and reading the TV camera (preferably a solid state array type) to pick up accuracy of target point location.

2. By moving at a constant rotational speed, one can interpolate between counts, allowing the cameras to read at any desired point. Note that an auxilliary rotational or axial movement can be added (eg. using a piezo electric device) to read super precisely over a very small zone.

3. Storing the begining and end points at which camera data is taken, and determining the mid point of the encoder position which generally is corresponding to the mid point of the target spot during the time of motion, since the target spot image can blur on camera if the light source is of longer duration.

The dual theodolite automatic system, when implemented with a laser source in one theodolite, can be used for contouring an arbitrary object by simply projecting the spot sequentially on the surface of the object and looking at it with the other theodolite, recording the angular relation of the two which gives the contour answer. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for constructing a fixture for holding a part in place wherein the fixture is provided with a framework and a part locating detail extending from the framework comprising the steps of:automatically moving the part locating detail into a desired position relative to the framework with a suitable robot; holding the moved part locating detail in place with the robot; and locking the part locating detail in the held position relative to the framework with an automatic locking device to form the fixture.
 2. A method for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 1 and further including the step of verifying that the part locating detail is in the desired position relative to the framework after the locking step.
 3. A method for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein said moving step moves the part locating detail in at least four degrees of freedom movements.
 4. A method for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein said locking step includes the step of welding with the automatic locking device.
 5. A method for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 2 wherein said moving step moves the part locating detail in at least four degrees of freedom movements.
 6. A method for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 5 wherein said locking step includes the step of welding with the automatic locking device.
 7. A method for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein said verifying step includes the step of providing the part locating detail with targets and the step of sensing the position of the targets relative to a base.
 8. A method for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein said automatic moving step includes the step of referencing a data base of a computer to determine the desired position of the part locating detail and the step of directing the movements of the robot by the computer after determining the desired position of the part locating detail.
 9. A system for constructing a fixture for holding a part in place wherein the fixture is provided with a framework and a part locating detail extending from the framework comprising:a robot means for moving the part locating detail into the desired position relative to the framework and then for holding the moved part locating detail in place; and an automatic locking means for locking the part locating detail in the held position relative to the framework to form the fixture.
 10. A system for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 9 and further including a verifying means for verifying that the part locating detail is in the desired position relative to the framework after locking by said locking means.
 11. A system for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 9 wherein said robot means moves the part locating detail in at least four degrees of freedom movements.
 12. A system for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 9 wherein said locking means includes a welding device.
 13. A system for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 10 wherein said moving step moves the part locating detail in at least four degrees of freedom movements.
 14. A system for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 13 wherein said locking means includes a welding device.
 15. A system for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 10 wherein said verifying means includes targets located on the part locating detail and a target sensing means for sensing the position of the targets relative to a base.
 16. A method for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 9 wherein said robot means includes a computer having a data base for determining the desired position of the part locating detail and for directing the movements of the robot means after determining the desired position of the part locating detail.
 17. A method for constructing a fixture for holding a part in place wherein the fixture is provided with a framework and a plurality of independently movable part locating details extending from the framework, said method comprising the steps of:automatically and independently moving at least one of the part locating details into a desired position relative to the framework with a suitable moving means; holding the moved part locating detail in place with the moving means; and locking the locating detail in the held position relative to the framework to form the fixture.
 18. A method for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 17 and further including the step of verifying that the part locating detail is in the desired position relative to the framework after the locking step.
 19. A method for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 18 wherein said verifying step includes the step of providing the part locating detail with a target and the step of sensing the position of the target relative to a base.
 20. A method for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 17 wherein said automatic moving step includes the step of referencing a data base of a computer to determine the respective desired position of the part locating detail and the step of directing the movements of the moving means by the computer after determining the desired position of the part locating detail.
 21. A method for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 17 wherein said locking step includes the step of welding the part locating detail.
 22. A method for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 17 and further including the steps of:automatically and independently moving a second part locating detail into a desired second position relative to the framework with a suitable moving means; holding the moved second part locating detail in place with the moving means; and locking the second part locating detail in the held position relative to the framework to form the fixture.
 23. A method for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 22 and further including the step of verifying that the second part locating detail is in the second desired position relative to the framework after the locking step.
 24. A method for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 23 wherein said verifying step includes the step of providing the second part locating detail with a second target and the step of sensing the position of the second target relative to a base.
 25. A method for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 21 wherein said automatic moving step includes the step of referencing a data base of a computer to determine the desired second position of the second part locating detail and the step of directing the movements of the moving means by the computer after determining the desired second position of the second part locating detail.
 26. A system for constructing a fixture for holding a part in place wherein the fixture is provided with a framework and a plurality of independently movable part locating details extending from the framework comprising:a moving means for automatically and independently moving at least one of the part locating details into a desired position relative to the framework and then for holding the at least one moved part locating detail in place; and an automatic locking means for locking the at least one part locating detail in the held position relative to the framework.
 27. A system for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 26 and further including a verifying means for verifying that the at least one part locating detail is in the desired position relative to the framework after locking by said locking means.
 28. A system for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 21 wherein said verifying means includes a target located on the at least one part locating detail and a target sensing means for sensing the position of the target relative to a base.
 29. A method for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 26 wherein said moving means includes a computer having a data base for determining the desired position of the at least one part locating detail and for directing the movements of the moving means after determining the desired position of the at least one part locating detail.
 30. A system for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 26 wherein said locking means includes a welding device.
 31. A system for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 26 wherein said moving means further automatically and independently moves a second part locating detail into a desired second position relative to the framework and then holds the second moved part locating detail in place; and said automatic locking means further locks the second part locating detail in the held second position relative to the framework.
 32. A system for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 31 wherein said verifying means further verifies that the second part locating detail is in the second desired position relative to the framework after locking by said locking means.
 33. A system for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 32 wherein said verifying means includes a second target located on the second part locating detail and the target sensing means senses the position of the second target relative to the base.
 34. A method for constructing a fixture as claimed in claim 31 wherein said computer of said moving means further has a data base for determining the desired second position of the second part locating detail and further directs the movements of the moving means after determining the desired second position of the second part locating detail. 